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University researchers share $2.9M in funding

Madhuri Koti, one of three Early Researcher Award grant recipients, speaks to the crowd gathered at the major funding announcement in the lobby at the Queen's University Cancer Research Institute in Kingston on Wednesday. (Julia McKay/The Whig-Standard)

Covering a wide range of research fields from cancer research to chemical engineering, songbirds to film and media, 17 researchers at Queen's University will receive combined funding of slightly more than $2.9 million from the Ontario Research Fund for its Early Researcher Awards and Small Research Infrastructure Program.

The announcement, made Wednesday morning before a crowd of PhD students, researchers and family, was made by Kingston and the Islands MPP Sophie Kiwala in the Queen's Cancer Research Institute lobby at Queen's University.

"Innovative research is essential for future economic growth and I am thrilled with the investments being made in projects in Kingston and across Ontario," Kiwala said. "The world-class research being conducted at Queen's University is an immense source of pride for myself and our region, and I look forward to seeing the results of this funding."

"We're here to recognize a number of Queen's researchers who have received funds from the Government of Ontario," John Fisher, vice-principal (research) at Queen's University, said. "Because of this support, our researchers cross a range of disciplines, will be better equipped to push the boundaries of knowledge and shape our understanding of the world around us."

Of the 17 research funding recipients at Queen's, three received an Early Researcher award of $140,000. This funding goes towards "supporting the creation and operation of new research teams. This funding is used to hire personnel to assist in research experiments, including undergraduates, graduate students, technicians, associates and others."

For Madhuri Koti, whose field of research is in ovarian cancer and anti-tumour immunity and treatment responses, the funding announcement is another way for her to thank all of the patients who donated their tumours to her research.

"It's an amazing feeling as a career researcher [to receive this funding]," Koti said. "Research wise, this funding is meant for training of highly qualified personnel. It means undergraduate students, as well as it will allow us to do some youth outreach activities for high school students."

Koti said the two biggest problems when it comes to treating ovarian cancer are late diagnosis and poor response to conventional chemotherapy.

"Even if I could change the life of one ovarian cancer patient, to increase her survival, that's it, I think my work is done," Koti said. "There's a lot more work to do, but with this award will definitely be able to bring in more younger scientists."

The other 14 researchers received Small Infrastructure grants, which will be used to help cover the cost of acquiring or renewing research equipment, specimens, computer software, and other operational technology for laboratories.

After the announcement, Kiwala and the media were given a tour of Koti's research lab, and Kiwala spoke with a number of the other researchers on Koti's team.

"It's exciting not just for the researchers here at Queen's but also for people in the community who will benefit from the research that's being done through this institution," Kiwala said. "When you come to a place like the Cancer Research Institute [at Queen's University] here is Kingston you have the opportunity to speak with young researchers and hear about their work and see the enthusiasm that they have for the projects that they're working on and know this is going to make a difference in people's lives, down the road."